The Roman Way With Criminals

Luke 23:32-33

32 • Two others, who were criminals,
were led away to be put to death with him.

33 • And when they came to the place that is called The Skull,
there they crucified him,

• and the criminals,
one on his right and one on his left.

The Romans were ultimate crowd manipulators and they knew exactly what to do to make an execution an unforgettable public occasion. We don't exactly know whether the place was chosen for a name it already had or whether the name was coined to add a Gothic allusion to the use to which it was being put but staging crucifixions at a place called 'Skull Hill' was by manipulative design. By the same meticulous attention to detail, the event was garnished with the execution of real criminals, two of those being brought out to take the places of 'honour' on either side of the centre cross where Jesus was crucified.